Flexible lattice structure using curved struts based on body-centered cubic structure

Abstract

Mono-material design is effective for achieving sustainability and a circular economy. Conversely, most industrial products are manufactured using a diverse range of materials to introduce multifunctional properties and characteristics. To resolve this trade-off, a wide range of mechanical properties can be achieved by controlling the porous cellular structures using a single material. For instance, Young’s modulus can be modified by changing the relative density of the cellular structures. However, in the case of 3D printed components, the lower limit of the relative density depends on the dimensional accuracy that can be achieved. Therefore, a novel flexible lattice structure is proposed to increase the range of mechanical property control. The key aspect of our lattice structure is the realization of slender and tilted struts by curving the struts of a conventional lattice structure. Consequently, the resulting structures exhibited approximately 40 times greater flexibility than body-centered cubic and octet truss lattices at the same relative density. Furthermore, Young’s modulus and static energy absorption values were achieved over a range of approximately three orders of magnitude by controlling the relative density from 13.3% to 100% for our lattice.